Life of a Reader
I have loved C. S. Lewis’ writing since childhood. The Chronicles of Narnia fueled much of my imagination (as little of it as I have) and Mere Christianity informed my college years rather thoughtfully. If we become what we read, then I’m a Narnian and I belong in Aslan’s country. In my search over the years for the best that literature has […]
The front screen door creaks with that beautiful summery sound of youthful bodies bounding from cool indoors to the hot adventures of the outside air. I’ve just finished the first of hopefully many literature lessons and reading-buddy hours with a young girl from my church. Two mugs sit contentedly on my counter, the dregs of warm tea and happy companionship […]
I wish I could just stay with the baggage. Singleness comes with many blessings and many hardships. Of late my struggle has been the almost viscerally overwhelming task of remaining behind with the baggage while also riding out to battle. I have to keep and maintain a home, a healthy food routine, and sustainable sleep habits while also charging out […]
I’ve enjoyed Elisabeth Elliot’s writing since my junior high years when I first read Through Gates of Splendor. I even grew in my appreciation of her writing after reading the first of two biographies about her written by Ellen Vaughn. She lived an interesting life from an early age that contributed greatly to her writing style. I was recently told to […]
I’ve grown up in evangelical churches where pastors reminded the congregation frequently that we are sheep. Sheep are stupid they say, sheep need so much help, they can’t do anything for themselves. This is absolutely true, I don’t disagree with the comparison. Jesus even calls his people sheep in the New Testament. But have you ever read Psalm 23 while […]
The unique beauty of college is that it creates space for quickly deep relationships, especially with fellow students who are Believers. These can be soul-satisfying relationships. They aren’t always that beautiful, but some of my best friends came from my college days. No other aspect of life really compares with college. You may simply have to acknowledge that friendships may […]
Have you ever been told that God is not your side-kick? I actually haven’t. But someone should have told me that a long time ago. The last six months shifted the paradigm of my plans for the future. I simply can’t plan anything anymore. While that statement does not ring true completely literally, long-term plans of any kind have failed […]
Eira does not remember her own mother’s death, but she remembers the day Prince Isbrand’s mother died—for Eira loves her best friend as much as any person can love another. On the day Isbrand’s mother was murdered by the Snow Queen, her best friend was cursed—along with all the kingdom of Ravenia—to a slow and icy doom. But Isbrand’s curse […]
I grew up on the tales of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe. The fantastical folklore entertained me and my siblings as we washed the dishes after dinner each night. Within mere pages, the story of the illustrious, accomplished, and incredibly irrational Baron von Munchausen took me back to my younger days of laughing over the unbelievably thin, one-sided […]
While I’ve now read one of her books, I am still mostly unfamiliar with Ruth Chou Simons and her company/blog GraceLaced. Her artwork has captured the attention and filled the picture frames of many women. Although, it was one of her book titles that originally caught my eye on a completely innocent walk through Hobby Lobby (ok, I did grab […]